BIO

Frank Bleechmore broke into the Norwood team as a young man in 1885 but found his greatest sporting interest in rifle shooting. Born at Fullarton on 28 August 1866, he attended the Thomas Caterer School before joining the Savings Bank of South Australia as a cadet in 1881. He graduated through the ranks over 53 years and held the office of chief clerk when he retired in 1934.

At 18 he was fond of athletics and won many Sheffields.  As a footballer, he was attracting notice with the Norwood Juniors before his selection to play for an undermanned senior side on 27 June 1885.  In a match notable for the rough play of George Giffen, Frank gave good service but contributed to the team's wayward goalkicking as Adelaide flogged Norwood 4.5 to 0.13. 

Frank was an emergency for Norwood at the start of the 1886 season and his football career appears to have petered out. From 1885 to 1892 he achieved more success with the Norwood Cricket Club alongside such luminaries as George Giffen and Jack Lyons.

Frank had a lifelong love of rifle shooting. He was for many years secretary of the South Australian National Rifle Association and visited England in 1928 as adjutant manager of the Australian rifle team which competed as Bisley. He also was a keen lawn bowler with the Toorak Gardens club.

Frank Bleechmore was 72 when he died at Rose Park on 8 July 1939, survived by his widow Ellen (Hughes), and children Reginald, Dorothy and Edna (Wright).  Another son, Eric, was killed in World War I

P Robins May 2018